Australian Woman on Trial for Alleged Mushroom Poisoning Says Fatal Meal Was a “Terrible Accident”

TDT | Manama

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The trial of Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old Australian woman accused of serving a fatal meal laced with poisonous mushrooms, began this week at the Supreme Court in Morwell. The case, which has drawn national and international attention, centers on a July 2023 family lunch that left three people dead and one seriously ill.

Patterson is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after a meal she prepared — beef wellington served with mashed potatoes and green beans — was found to contain death cap mushrooms, a species known to be highly toxic. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The victims include her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. The sole survivor, pastor Ian Wilkinson, spent several weeks in hospital recovering from the effects of the poisoning.

Prosecutors allege Patterson intentionally laced the food with the deadly mushrooms and invited the victims under false pretenses, including a fabricated claim that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC told the jury that while the case initially appeared to be a tragic case of accidental food poisoning, evidence will show it was, in fact, a deliberate act.

The court heard that Patterson later took steps to mislead investigators and cover up her actions, including lying about the origin of the mushrooms — initially claiming they were store-bought — and discarding a food dehydrator allegedly used in the meal’s preparation.

Investigators also discovered that Patterson had visited an area near her home in Leongatha where death cap mushrooms had previously been reported, according to entries on a naturalist website.

Despite presenting no specific motive, the prosecution argued that intent — not motive — is the core legal issue, with Justice Christopher Beale stating: “The overarching issue is whether she intended to kill or cause very serious injury.”

The defence, however, paints a different picture. Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy, SC, urged jurors to keep an open mind, emphasizing that no formal evidence had yet been presented. He said his client was “overwhelmed” and “panicked” after realizing that the food she had served caused severe illness.

“She didn’t intend to cause anyone any harm on that day. What happened was a tragedy — a terrible accident,” Mandy told the court.

The trial is expected to last six weeks and will feature testimony from key witnesses, including the surviving guest Ian Wilkinson, Patterson’s estranged husband Simon Patterson, medical professionals, and police investigators.

As proceedings continue, the case is being closely watched, both for its legal complexities and its deeply emotional impact on the families involved.